The ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Seychelles, Yin Lixian, yesterday donated a set of computers and laserjet printers to the Seychelles police department in Victoria.
It forms part of the China’s contribution to the department’s planned database management system project.
The equipment, consisting of 20 computers and 12 laserjet printers of the Lenovo brand, were handed over to the Seychelles Commissioner of Police, Reginald Elizabeth in the presence of Charles Bastienne, Minister for Home Affairs, senior officials and management members of the Seychelles police and officials from the Chinese embassy in Seychelles.
This was later followed by the signing of the handing over documents between ambassador Lixian and Minister Bastienne.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is to introduce a new database management system for the police department which will link all stations, including the Criminal Investigation Department, to enable information sharing across the country.
In his address of appreciation, Commissioner Elizabeth referred to a previous meeting with the media where he expressed the need for the police department to embrace technology for professionalism and for better service delivery to the community.
“This donation of twenty new computer sets and twelve new printers from one of our generous partners has come at a very opportune time indeed and will no doubt play a significant role in making the anticipated fully-fledged network system to be commissioned soon, a reality,” said the police commissioner, adding the donation is a big step forward in that direction.
The digital case file management system, he said, will enable all data collected in regards to crime and criminal activities to be more effectively stored and to be accessed at any given time in one location.
“Therefore this donation is a big step forward towards our objectives,” he added. He also expressed the police force’s gratefulness and appreciation towards the Chinese government for such a gesture.
Remarking that 2016 marks 40 years since China and Seychelles established diplomatic relations which has witnessed smooth development in the friendly China-Seychelles relations with countless fruitful results in mutually beneficial cooperation, Ambassador Yin said although China and Seychelles are quite different, the two countries have many things in common. Among them the value of people-centered development.
“With the new database management system installed, the policemen will be better placed to serve the communities and citizens, which reflects the concept of people-centered development,” the ambassador said.
It honoured her greatly, she said, to be part of this meaningful process by donating these IT equipment to facilitate the new system and hope China’s contribution will support the ministry in its mission and ambition.
